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Photo Gallery: Photo Camp-Ocean for Life

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Beach Sunset

Photograph by Gina McGuire

Santa Barbara provided a picturesque setting for the National Geographic Photo Camp – Ocean for Life (OFL) program. In partnership with NOAA, OFL brought 30 students from Lebanon, Pakistan, Kuwait, Qatar, Egypt, Bahrain, and all over North America together to learn about one another through ocean science, documenting their experience with the help of the National Geographic Photo Camp Media Team.

Hair Blowing

Noaf Anwar Almurbati, from Bahrain, enjoys the boat journey out to the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and Santa Cruz Island, where many of the OFL students went camping for the very first time.

Shadow in Water

Photograph by Hala Kamil Zahr

Santa Barbara provided the ideal home base for the OFL program—many of the Middle Eastern participants had never experienced an expanse of water like the Pacific.

Open Water

Photograph by Emiliano Valle

Students took advantage of calm waters around Santa Cruz Island to kayak out and snorkel to photograph garibaldis, sea urchins, kelp forests, and sea stars.

Fish in Hand

Photograph by Brooke Liston

Participants in NOAA's Ocean for Life program have the opportunity to explore marine life in a hands-on environment that creates an impactful outdoor classroom experience.

Taking a Water Sample

Photograph by Alhassan Ali Omar

The Ocean for Life program teaches students the importance of conservation and stewardship by having participants conduct field studies. Here, students test water quality and acidity at popular Hendry's Beach in California.

Underwater

Photograph by Erica Knox

Students were given underwater cameras and instruction from National Geographic Photo Camp staff on how to use the cameras to document their experience.

Garibaldi fish

Photograph by Basmah Al-Mesad

The garibaldi is a popular, curious fish protected by the Channel Islands Marine Sanctuary and California state law.

Flowers in the Sunset

Photograph by Brooke Liston

Students learned about the unique geography of Santa Cruz Island during a four-day stay at the Nature Conservancy's Reserve station.

Lighthouse

Photograph by Natasha Khan

Pakistani student Natasha Khan practiced unique ways to take photos. In this picture, she captures the lighthouse on Anacapa Island as seen through a viewer.

Man Holding Drum

Photograph by Ellie Burck

In addition to learning about marine sciences and photography, students gained insight into cultures with a spiritual connection to the ocean and its resources, including that of the Chumash Indians.

Self-portrait

Photograph by Hala Kamil Zahr

As part of the Ocean for Life and National Geographic Photo Camp programs, students are encouraged by staff and mentors to explore self-portrait photography.

Crawling Crab

Photograph by Amira Ahmed Ali

Amira Ahmed Ali, from Egypt, captures a close-up of one of the smaller creatures on Santa Barbara's beaches.

Bird Posing

Photograph by Aneesah Jaffer

Anacapa Island's flourishing kelp forests provide a healthy foundation for both marine and land animals.

Girl Underwater

Photograph by Natasha Khan

Ocean for Life student Natasha Khan plans to return to Pakistan and organize her community to help clean up her city's streams and waterways.

Engage, Conserve, Restore

The National Geographic Society’s freshwater initiative is a multi-year global effort to inspire and empower individuals and communities to conserve freshwater and preserve the extraordinary diversity of life that rivers, lakes, and wetlands sustain.